[M] (2) Amethyst - Page 2

On November 13 2012 23:00 OxyGenesis wrote:
Cool map! Definitely one of your best ones. I can imagine this being a lot of fun to play. I think at the top level of play it won't create the best games (short rush distance, relatively simple expansion layout) but for high level and below I think it's great. You're getting much better with your aesthetics too, which is especially impressive given that it's Ulnar! Great use of texturing and doodads in combination and the contrast between the light snow and the dark hull textures really makes the map 'pop'. My favourite part is the 'snow drift' ramps either side of the XNT.

On November 14 2012 02:29 necrimanci wrote:
Doesnt the formation in front of the natural entrance make immortal/sentry impossible to hold when P gets there? It really looks like a forcefield festival :-D Besides that i really like the map design.

On November 14 2012 04:46 Doominator10 wrote:
I'm liking the way the map looks... a lot :D. Personally, I'm a fan of maps that have the "potential" for early aggression but also lend well towards macro games. The only thing I would have liked to see on this particular map was a slight widening of the choke on the third with the rocks. That create a little interesting dynamic there where taking that third is safer at first, but if you let the rocks go down, you must defend a larger choke.

Again, kudos to you. See if you can get Kabel to do a Starbow version of this map for $hits and giggles.

On November 14 2012 06:26 Antares777 wrote:
Amethyst has a Steppes of War feel to it in the sense that the rush distance is a short and straight line between naturals and decreases in elevation as you approach the center of the map. The rush distance may not be a problem, considering it is countered with expansions that are easy to expand to and a very controllable layout.

There is a lot of emphasis on controlling the center in this map. It is the fastest route between the mains and naturals, and is the only route that units can pass through to get to the other side without destroying the destructible rocks. A map feature like that will make Terran mech a force to be reckoned with. Oh, and there is also a watchtower there. I believe that the watchtower is in a location that favors mech a bit too much, but there are no good alternatives to its current location, and no watchtowers at all on a small map creates a very technical game: players will have to be super aware of their surroundings and scout a lot.

One thing that I find a bit odd about the layout is how the mono-entrance 6th expansions are set up relative to the optional 3rd blocked expansions. Many maps have mono-entrance expansions set up as the intended final expansion for players. This is because they make an unambiguous expansion pattern easier to create. But, these expansions are extremely close to the thirds. This makes me feel that they are not intended for either player; the rocks will most likely be destroyed by the time these expansions become relevant in a game, so the base would be dangerously close to both players.

I think if I understood what you are trying to get out of the expansion pattern on Amethyst I'd be of more help with criticism. The two-thirds set up feels unnecessary. I am not sure what it accomplishes in terms of balance or gameplay.

I would consider removing the destructible rocks and modify the third and 6th expansions accordingly to maintain balance. This would make the main pathways of the map have a tic-tac-toe shape to them: two sets of two paths that cross each other (the map already has these paths, but the rocks make it complicated). Therefore, the center of the map would not have so much control during early games. The cons to this would be balancing the map around the way that the expansions would interact without the rocks. The map would certainly have expansion ambiguity if it does not already.

Sorry if I am not being very helpful, it's just that this map has a peculiar layout... changing it might cause even more balance problems than it already has, so I am trying to be cautious while suggesting improvements. I see that you want Amethyst to be a map that allows rushing, but also turtling. This is probably going to be extremely difficult to create and balance, but I really want to see it happen! I really like the aesthetics; I haven't seen a map with snow in space. Snow is cool!

Good luck on Amethyst!

On November 17 2012 14:17 FlaShFTW wrote:
once the rocks at the third are opened, it will be pretty hard to defend everywhere. if they attack ur third, a small sneak attack into your natural would do so much damage.

On November 23 2012 09:57 Entirety wrote:
This map is absolutely fantastic! The other day, I played a TvT on it and I didn't find the rush distance to be too small... Yes, we played aggressively, but it was nowhere near Steppes of War level. It was fun because neither of us was inclined to turtle heavily.

Great work!